Sound-producing device



Dec. 20, 1927. 1,653,221

H. w. MAY

S OUND PRODUCING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1-9. 1921 which may be either open at one 01 its ends,

Patented Dec. 20, 192?.

PATET OFFltllil.

HANS W. MAY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSO URI.

sounn-rnonuome DEVICE.

Application filed September 19, 1921. Serial No. 501,772.

The present invention relates to whistles or like sound-producing devices, and aims to provide an improved simple construction which may be cheaply manufactured for use as a toy device or an advertising novelty.

One oi the essential features of the invention lies in the provision of a sound producing instrument of this character with an improved forni of means for varying the size of the air chamber of the device for the purpose of correspondingly varying the pitch of the tone which is emitted by the instrument. For carrying out this feature of the construction, I have devised an instrument in the form of a'tube in which is mounted a sliding plunger operating to vary the size of the air chamber and having means serving to yieldingly retain the plunger normally at one limit of its movement, together with convenient manually operable means for moving the plunger element in the opposite direction in opposition to the spring. V

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating suitable :iorms of embodiment of the invention, after which the novel teatures therein will be specifically set' forth and claimed;

In the drawing- C Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wh1s tle constructed in accordance with the present invention; l

Figure 2 1s a longitudinal sectional view of the same; v I

Figure 3 1s a longitudinal sect1onalviewv showing a modified form of construction;

Figure i is a similar sectional view showing a still further modified form of construction Figure 5 1s a detail section taken on the line VV of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a detail view showing the other side of the joint between the toggle links.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this illustrates the invention as. embodying a whistle, the structure of which is adapted for use as a toy, and comprises a tube 6 .sponding end of the tube 6, for producing the peculiar sound note characteristic of this class of wind instruments, the pitch of which note varies in accordancewith the size of the air chamber 10 within the tube 6.

in Figures '1 and I illustrate one term of structure for varying the size. of the chamber 10 by a convenient manuallyoperable device, consisting of a plunger element 11 connected pivotally to the end of one of a palr of toggle links 12, 13, the rear link 13 being pivotally connected, as indicated at 14, to one end ofthe tube 6. The tube 6 is provided with a longitudinal slot 15 to accommodate the links 12, 18, and to permit the straightening movements thereof in accomplishing the movement of the plunger element 11 in the direction of the mouthpiece 8, the outer ends of the links being pivotally connected by means of apin 16 to form a toggle joint,- and one or said links, as for example the link 13, carryin a linger piece 17 for convenient manual engagement tonoperating the toggle structure. A coil spring element 18 is coiled about the pin 16 forming the connection between the links 12 and 13, with theends of the element 18 embracing the outer edges of said links, in a manner to oppose the straighteningmovement of the links and thereby maintain the plunger 11 normally retracted in a direction away from the mouth-piece 8. The

spring 18 serves to. break the toggle joint formed by the links 12, 13, and thereby tends to maintain thaplunger element 11 normally retracted away from the mouthpiece, which corresponds to the maximum size of the air chamber 10. Obviously, the plunger 11 may be moved in the direction of the opening 9 for decreasing the size of the chamber 10, and producing sounds of higher pitch, by the simple operation of the toggle device responding readily to a slight pressure upon the finger piece 17, as will be readily umlerstood.

The link 12 is formed with a stop shoulder 19 designed for engagement with the forward end of the slot to limit the extent of forward movement of the plunger 11, the reverse or retracting movement of which is limited by engagement of a stop shoulder 21, on the outer end of the link 12, with the under face of the finger piece 17, as clearly shown in Figure 6.

In Figure 8 I illustrate a modified form of the device, in which an expansion spring 22 is used for maintaining the plunger device 11 normally advanced in the direction of the opening 9, and said plunger device is formed with a finger extension 23 for manual engagement in retracting the plunger against the action of said spring 22 as required for increasing the size of the air chamber 10. In this form of the device the slot 15 is cut in the under side of the tube 6, and the forward or advance movement of the plunger 11, in response to the action of the spring 22, is limited by en; gagement of the linger 23 with the forward end of said slot. One end of the tube 6 in this case is provided with a linger engaging eye or loop 24; for convenient manual engagement in the operation of the plunger as stated.

In Figure l I illustrate a modified form of structure similar in all respects to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the exception that a different form of spring is used, in l eu of the coil spring 18, this modified form of spring comprising a coil extension spring 25 having the opposite ends thereof engaging eyes 26 provided in projections .27 from the inner ends of the links 12 and 13. The action of this spring 25 serves to oppose the straightening movement of said links 12, 13, so that the operation of this modified form is in all respects the same as that of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a simple, inexpensive and practical form of construction for embodying the proposed features of improvement, and while I have illustrated what I have found to be satisfactory forms of construction for embodying the invention, I desire to reserve the right to make such changes as may fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

iVhat I claim is:

1. A sound producing instrument comprising a tube provided with a mouth-piece at one end and a longitudinal slot along its other end portion, a plunger element operating slidingly in said tube to vary the size of the air chamber between said plunger and mouth-piece, yielding means outside said air chamber and operating to retain said plunger element normally at one limit of its movement, and a manually operable mem ber connected with said plunger and projecting out through said slot.

2. A sound producing instrument compris ing a tube provided with a mouth-piece at one end, a plunger element operating slidingly in said tube to vary the size of the air chamber between said plunger and mouthpiece, a spring tending to move said plunger element away from said mouth-piece, and a ina-ni'ially operable toggle device connected with said plunger element and operating on straightening of said toggle to push said plunger element in the direction of said mouth-piece.

3. A sound producing instrument comprising a tube prov'dod with a mouth-piece at one end, a plunger element operating slidingly in said tube to vary the size of the air chamber between said plunger and mouth piece, a spring tending to move said Manger element away from said mouth-piece, a pair of toggle links connected to said tube and plunger element, respectively, and a finger piece mounted at the toggle joint between. said links, whereby pressure on said finger piece will operate to straighten said toggle links and push said plunger element in the direction of said mouth-piece.

t. A sound producing instrument comprising a slotted tube provided with a mouthpiece at one end, a plunger element operatin slidingly in said tube to vary the size of the air chamber between said plunger and mouthpiece, a spring tending to move said plunger away from said mouthpiece, and a manually operable toggle device connected with said. plunger and operating through the slot of said. tube to move said plunger in the direction of said mouthpiece, said toggle being provided with a shoulder adapted for engagement with one end of said slot to limit the straightening action of said toggle.

5. A sound producing instrument comprising a slotted tube provided with a mouthpiece at one end, a plunger element operating slidingly in said tube to vary the size of the air chan'iber between said plunger and mouth-piece, a spring tending to move said plunger away from said mouth-piece,a pair of tog, e links arrai'iged with n the slot in said tube and connected to said tube and plunger, 'pectively, and a finger piece mounted at the toggle joint between s, '"l lin :,,wl.iereby pressure on said finger piece will operate to straighten said toggle links and push said plunger in the direction of said mouth-piece, the outer end of one of said links'being formed with a shoulder adapted for engagement with the under face of said finger piece to limit the return movement of said plunger.

(3. A sound producing instrument comprising a tube provided with a mouth-piece at one end and a longitudinal slot along its other end portion, a plunger element operating slidingly in said tube to vary the size of the air chamber between said plunger and mouth-piece, and manually operable means ill) projecting through said slot and connected With said plunger element for sliding the latter.

7. A sound producing instrument con1prising a tube provided With a mouth-piece at one end and a longitudinal slot along its other end portion, a plunger element operating slidingly in said tube to vary the size of the air chamber between said plunger and mouth-piece, and manually operable means projecting through said slot and connected With said plunger element for actuating the same and including means for retaining said element normally at one limit of its movement.

In Witness whereof I hereunto affix my 

